PCOS, Periods, Provera & Pals. Plus All The Bits In between.

[AmyC86]

Welcome to our third thread on PCOS. What we don't know isn't really worth knowing. We're a friendly bunch of women who have a few things in common. We all have either PCOS or unexplained infertility and we're all on a mission for a BFP!!!!

For new members, and old alike here are the links to our 1st and 2nd threads:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/conception/2481523-when-to-expect-period-provera

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/conception/2685865-pcos-periods-or-lack-of-and-a-lovely-bunch-of-ladies?pg=1&order=

Now without further ado, let's continue on our journey.......

Yeahh it's all a little confusing Amy hehe.

SLady, I had an internal scan the month I conceived in oct showing a good sized follicle so they basically sent me home to dtd and I fell pregnant that month. I was told to take them until 12 weeks but after seeing the heartbeat at 7 weeks I stopped taking them assuming everything would be ok and then I had a mmc. So basically blame myself for stopping the metformin early but the nurse reassured me it wasn't my fault, but I know she would say that anyway. So this time I'm going to make sure I take the metformin as I'm told to. It's awful medication though, gives me such an upset tummy :(
The nurse this time said she would only scan me once I've had 2 periods, and so far I'm mid way through my first cycle and I've been using the clear blue ov tests and got a peak on wed, but then I came away to Latvia on thurs so not been testing and just awaiting my flight home. Been dtd though so will have to wait and see
How are you girls getting on xx

Sorry to hear that. You can't blame yourself, its a horrible thing and unfortunately it is far too common. So you have been on metformin since October then? Sounds like you are responding really well to it. What was their reasoning for trying metformin on its own without clomid?
I've already been diagnosed with PCOS and just currently undergoing my tests for a FC referral so early days for me

It seems like such a long story now lol but basically I'd been ttc for about 18 months. I had blood tests taken with my gp in two consecutive months showing that I wasn't ovulating so I was referred to a fertility clinic. The consultant told me that my hormone levels were off but that a gp wouldn't notice that because they were showing in a normal range on the computer system but they weren't as normal as he would have liked, if that makes sense. So the consultant said that metformin would help to stabilise my hormones enough for me then to be able to release an egg. I took it for 4 months and had no luck but tbh we could have tried much more than we did in those months but by that point I was just getting really down with it all. So then they gave me clomid and asked me to go back in on cd11 for an internal scan but then I was told I had 5 follicles there that month and that I'd basically over reacted to it so they told me not to try that month because I could end up releasing 5 eggs. So I went in on my following cycle for another scan at cd11 but this time only taking metformin and there was 1 good sized follicle there and then that was the month I conceived.
So now I'm back to taking metformin again 3 times a day and the clearblue ov tests have shown that I'm ovulating this month, but I'm not entirely sure how accurate they are with pcs because I've recently read from another post that it can give false positives but I'm not sure how true that is?! Xx

Hi ladies, just to say that I'm still here, just taking sometime out as I'm massively struggling. I've got some private counselling tomorrow.

MIL has been gossiping again and apparently my SIL has pcos and has been given some fertility medication after blood tests and a scan. SIL has 2 children and had no issues conceiving either of them. It's the second time she's decided to talk about my SIL when she's not been there. It's so inappropriate.

Thanks sugarplum for sharing - make sure you keep us all updated. I don't use opk's as I have also heard they're not accurate due to hormone imbalances in women with pcos (clearblue also advise this!) But I am not sure if that changes when you start treatment?

Nice to hear from you boggle hope the counselling helps and makes you feel a bit stronger. Oh dear, does your MIL know about you? Gossipers are the worst!

No, this is the exact reason we don't tell her what's going on with us (although this will change when we get to IVF as we've decided to tell our parents) as she can't keep anything to herself! Makes me so cross!

Good to see you back boggle xx we havent told family or even close friends as i dont want the gossiping. If we go to ivf we wont be telling anyone either. My vagina and uterus is my business

Hahaha good for you fluffy. I wouldn't tell DH's family as they love to know and gossip about the ins and outs of everything! I have told my mum and sister though. My mum just for the fact she was talking about grandchildren every two minutes and it was driving me mad. Least now she doesn't say a word anymore!!

Thanks SLady, I was having lots of cm whilst I had the peaks with the clearblue ov tests so hoping they were accurate. Done another one this morning and now it's low again and no more cm at cd19 so I guess I'm in the ttw now.

Oh wow poor you Boggle, that would drive me insane too. Sounds like you've done the right thing by keeping quiet xx

Hey ladies

I have taken advice from here and booked a GP appointment for 16th Feb to find out whats going on with me. Came off Pill in June had erratic cycles and my last AF was 1st December and nothing ever since. Definitely not pregnant taken several tests to confirm this! Feeling a bit deflated as i feel like its admiting there must be something wrong and since we started TTC i have just been in a wee bubble thinking " this is normal everything is fine " but glad that im doing it as if there is an issue this is the first step to getting it sorted.

My partner doesn't know i have made an appointment ( i dont think he even knows i haven't had a visit from AF since december!) decided to keep it all from him as i don't want to worry him.

after reading some of your own personal stories im really rooting for you all and keeping my FX

Turns out my MIL didn't have her facts right and my SIL isn't on fertility medication but she may need help on the future. I doubt they'll get to that point though, she was told she's ovulating late so she just needs to adjust her timing I think. It annoys me that MIL just makes up stuff up according to what she's chosen to hear...

Fricking nervous about counselling today. It's actually admitting something is wrong... 😫

Hi all

I think I may have lurked a little on a previous thread but little intro anyway:
Im 31
One 7 yr old dd from previous relationship
Ttc since april 2015

Pcos diagnosed dec 2015. Since april 2015 I have had one 'real' af (as in, the result of ovulation and not a provera bleed) . That was last month as I got a private clomid prescription. However, my OH has MFI as well so even with me ovulating it will take 'a miracle' according to pur consultant. Optimistic guy, that one! Probably realistic though. But at least with clomid we have a miniscule shot every month whereas although its been almost 2 years, with no ovulation there has been no chance at all so . Anyway. We are saving for ivf currently but it is painfully slow!
Kittycat i hope your appt goes well next week. It can take several months after the pill for hormones to adjust so hopefully it is just that?
Boggle, sorry you are having a hard time. I hope the counseeling today is ok. It is scary to admit there is a problem but its the first step to fixing the problem too!

Hi Ladies

Can I join you?

I was part of a PCOS group in 2014/2015 on here. I had DS1 in Feb 2016, he has just turned 1. Took 2 rounds of Clomid and 1g 2x inositol to conceive him. Natural cycles I don't ovulate and get 3 fake LH surges per cycle. I've been on the pill since 6 weeks post birth and came off in Dec. My cysts didn't regress during pregnancy and didn't regress while on the pill. My Dr was quite shocked how cystic I was on the pill.

Now on cycle 2 TTC DC2. One natural cycle and now on Clomid cycle. Was scanned on CD 11 which was too early had 3 sub quality follicles 2 x 0.6 and 1 x 1.0 cm. Dr wanted to rescan 3 days later but I couldn't get there. So no idea what is going on in there. Had LH surge start yesterday afternoon CD17, DTD last night, waiting for ovulation pain.

I can't remember when is the best time to DTD in relation to LH surge?

Hi all

I've been awol for a while so just popping in to see how everyone is doing? I am still at the investigation stage as to why my periods have stopped so not had a PCOS diagnosis as yet however based on my bloods my GP has said she suspects that's what it could be.

I have a ultrasound on Monday with my 1st appointment at the fertility clinic the week after. Do any of you know if they are likely to tell me anything at the scan? Or will I have to wait until I see the doctor? Unsure as to whether to take DH along with me or not.

rufus I think the LH surge indicates you should ovulate within the next 24-48 hours so DTD as much as you can from now for the next couple of days! FX

happy when I had a scan to help diagnose pcos they didnt say anything at all wbile I was there and sent a reoort to the doctor. With the scans and hsg I had at the fertility clinic they told me everything they could see while they were doing it. I think if it's to check for pcos they won't say anything while there. I had all mine done without my OH, depends on the area I am sure but with my ones at the fertility clinic they had told us in our previous appointment all that was going to happen based on what they found and the scans were just to confirm which action we would take so it wasn't something I needed anyone with me for. But as I said, I'm sure it will differ by area. These things often do!

Thanks pteradactyl that's really helpful. This is one my GP has referred me for before my 1st appt at the fertility clinic. She said it'll be one of the 1st things they want to do so if she refers me for one 1st then they should have the results for my 1st appointment. I can't believe how different treatment is just based on where you live! Crazy isn't it how they all do things differently, you'd think it would be the same across the board.

Hi happybus with my first ultrasound I wasn't told anything although she did confirm I had cysts when I pushed her on it. My second ultrasound I told her I'd already been diagnosed and this was just a box ticking exercise and she went through it all on screen. I went on my own both times. It's probably not worth DH coming as they might not tell you much. The FC appt will be much more informative I expect. I can't believe you've been given your FC appt so soon. I am still waiting for AF until I can have my final bloods done before im referred and I have been diagnosed previously. It's a joke! I might book a GP appt next week. My last cycle was 69 days, I'm not waiting that long just for a referral to be processed. It's just wasting time when it's obvious what the issue is!! So frustrating! Hopefully she can put my referral through while I wait for AF.

Hi rufus sorry I can't really help with your question I'm a newbie. Did you have to go through this same referral process second time round or did you get clomid straight away?

Thanks slady I wasn't expecting to be told anything on Monday but good to hear people's experiences. DH already has the afternoon off anyway so he'll probs come along if he's nothing better to do! My GP has been great so far I've been lucky. I haven't had a AF since October so she just said we could be waiting for ages if we wait for it so just to have my bloods done anyway and she'll get the referral done. I've had 2 lots of bloods now which both showed a raised LH level but everything else fine. DH is having his SA next week also. Definitely see your GP again and see if you can hurry things along. It must be so frustrating for you

SLady it was private so my Dr just gave me my prescription at my appointment. I'm not sure if the NHS will give Clomid for 2nd children.

We both have flu now so only DTD the night of start of LH surge, probably not enough and I'm having to stuff myself with flu meds to be able to look after DS1, which I really shouldn't be doing but can't breathe through the snot.

I've still got loads of ovary pain so not convinced I've ovulated, I can normally feel the moment and haven't had any stabbing pain, just generalised ache as intestines move over ovaries.

That's great your GP is being helpful happybus, makes all the difference. I told my GP it would be hard to get my bloods done on the right days with irregular cycles and she just shrugged her shoulders and said yes . Yes i'm going to book an appt for next week and see if I can get things moved along. I've completed all the other tests now so seems unfair to have to wait for AF when she's so illusive at the best of times! Keep us updated with things won't you :)

Oh I see rufus, that's amazing getting it so quickly! Fingers crossed for you. Power through the flu and DTD as much as you can! Haha

rufus do you mind if I ask how much it cost to go privately for Clomid?

The nhs here def don't offer clomid for second children. May again vary though. There is one area in england that offer ivf even if there is a previous child already. I may move there

Hi ladies, hope you're all well. Welcome new ladies.

Just a quick one... it's cd10, had AF like normal cd1-5 and then it stopped as expected. I'm now spotting again. This has never happened before. It's like pre AF spotting. I'm keeping an eye out but just wondered if anyone else has had it?

SLady £200 for consult, £110 for ultrasound with same Dr and then Clomid price, which I can't remember. If you go privately it is really helpful if the Dr has their own ultrasound machine and can do it then and there. My Dr really doesn't understand PCOS though. She did my AMH before I came off the pill in 2015 and it was 11, then she redid it when I had been off for 4mths with no luck. It was 70. She couldn't wrap her head round how it had gone up which is impossible to improve egg reserves. 🙄 Just my cysts artificially elevating it.